Week at a glance November 18 - 22, 2013

This week we are jumping into our Junior Research Essay.  Details for each step of the essay are posted to the left under the Course Materials section.  The steps are also there for students who lose their research packet so that they may print off additional copies on their own.  Our focus for this week is research.  Librarian Mrs. Sandberg will visit us on Monday.  Tuesday - Thursday we will be in the computer lab gathering notes and completing the Annotated Bibliography.  We'll wrap up the week by starting in on the shaping packet, which will serve as a general outline for the essay.

• Mon: Turn in Topic Questions.  Research Notes with Librarian Mrs. Sandberg
• Tues: JRE - Meet in the computer lab to begin searching for sources and information for the Annotated Bibliography.
• Wed: JRE - Meet in the computer lab to continue searching for sources and information for the Annotated Bibliography.
• Thurs: JRE - Meet in the computer lab to print off sources. Begin shaping packet.  Annotated Bibliography due by the end of the hour.
• Fri: JRE - Meet in the classroom and fill in the shaping packet.

Week at a glance November 11-15, 2013

This week we will complete the unit exam for Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.  Students will spend the first two days reviewing for the exam.  We'll complete the multiple choice portion on Wednesday, followed by a short essay on Thursday.  On Thursday we'll also begin work on our major essay assignment of the semester: the Junior Research Essay.  Details and the complete assignment will be posted online later this week.

• Mon: Huck Finn - discuss and begin reviewing for the exam.
• Tues: Huck Finn - answer remaining questions about the exam.  Pass back and discuss current grades.
• Wed: Huck Finn - Multiple Choice Unit Exam.  Begin gathering quotes for the short essay.
• Thurs: Huck Finn - Short Essay Exam.  Pass out and discuss Junior Research Essay assignment.
• Fri: Junior Research Essay - integrating and citing quotes.  For Monday: create a short paragraph identifying the topic and why it interests you.

Week at a glance November 4 - 8, 2013

This week we will wrap up our readings over Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.  Huck's personal conscience has multiple dilemmas this week.  We'll read several more adventures between Huck, Jim, the King, and the Duke.  We will also finally reach the climax of the story as Huck makes a critical choice.

Although students are not able to check out books for Huck Finn, students have free access to a copy of the book online at http://www.feedbooks.com/book/71/the-adventures-of-huckleberry-finn.  Students may also download a free copy of the book to their computers and/or smartphones through the iTunes and Google Play stores.

• Mon:Close Read #10 assigned - due Friday.  Huck Finn - read 157-170
• Tues: Huck Finn - discuss 157-170.  Read 171-185.
• Wed: Huck Finn - discuss 171-185.  Read 185-205.  Begin working on the Ch XIX - Ch XXXI packet.
• Thurs: Huck Finn - discuss 185-205.  Read 205-218.
• Fri: Close Read #10 due.  Huck Finn packet due by the end of the hour.

Week at a glance October 28 - November 1, 2013

This week we will continue reading and discussing section from Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.  Our goal for this week is to read pages 117-156.  During this section Huck and Jim fall under the influence of two con men.  We'll read and analyze their adventures as the group of four make their way through the ante-bellum South.  Be on the lookout for Twain's very subtle use of satire and sarcasm to make some sharp points about society.

Although students are not able to check out books for Huck Finn, students have free access to a copy of the book online at http://www.feedbooks.com/book/71/the-adventures-of-huckleberry-finn.  Students may also download a free copy of the book to their computers and/or smartphones through the iTunes and Google Play stores.

• Mon:Close Read #9 assigned - due Friday.  Huck Finn - read 117-125
• Tues: Huck Finn - discuss 117-125.  Read 126-135.
• Wed: Huck Finn - discuss 126-135.  Read 135-145.  Begin working on the Ch XIX - Ch XXXI packet.
• Thurs: Huck Finn - discuss 135-145.  Read 145-156.
• Fri: Close Read #9 due.  Discuss.  Huck Finn - discuss 145-156.  Continue working on the Ch XIX - Ch XXXI packet.

Week at a glance October 21 - 25, 2013

Parent/Teacher Conferences at WRHS

Wed 4pm - 8pm (find me in the library)

Thurs 8am-4pm (classroom) and 4pm - 8pm (find me in the library)

During this short week we'll focus on a short story scene in The Adventures in Huckleberry Finn in which Huck comes between two feuding families.  We'll compare this short story with real history as we investigate the Hatfields and the McCoys and discuss the similarities in a Socratic Seminar on Wednesday.

Although students are not able to check out books for Huck Finn, students have free access to a copy of the book online at http://www.feedbooks.com/book/71/the-adventures-of-huckleberry-finn.  Students may also download a free copy of the book to their computers and/or smartphones through the iTunes and Google Play stores.

• Mon: Huck Finn - read pages 95-116 (chapters 17 & 18) and be prepared for a reading quiz.
• Tues: Huck Finn - reading quiz.  The Hatfields and the McCoys -- Close Read 8 due Wednesday.
• Wed: Huck Finn - The Hatfields and the McCoys Socratic Seminar.  Close Read 8 due.
• Thurs: No school - P/T Conferences
• Fri: No school

Week at a glance October 14 - 18, 2013

This week we will start a unit over Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.  We will not be reading the entire book from cover to cover.  Instead, we will be doing multiple close reads with the novel as we read short sections and tie them to informative and argumentative texts we pick up as we read.  Students will check out their books on Monday.  We'll spend the rest of the week reading the first few chapters to get an idea of the context and setting for the novel.

• Mon: Assign and briefly discuss Close Read #7, due Thursday.  Check out Huck Finn books.  Intro to Mark Twain.  For Tuesday, read Chapters I-IV, pages 1-18.
• Tues: Huck Finn - discuss Chapters I-III.  Complete the study guide through chapter IV.
• Wed: Huck Finn - read Chapters V-VIII, pages 18-47.  Be prepared for a possible quiz on Thursday.  Discuss Crucible Exam results and current 1st Quarter grades.
• Thurs: Close Read #7 due.  Huck Finn - finish the 1-47 study guide and turn in by the end of the hour. Optional reading - pages 48-94.
• Fri: No school - End of the 1st quarter work day

Week at a glance October 7 - 11, 2013

We are doing several major assessments this week.  We'll start the week wrapping up and turning in The Crucible Compare/Contrast Essay.  We'll then move on to study for and take The Crucible Unit Exam.  We'll wrap up the week with presentations for the 1st Quarter Book Project.

• Mon: Meet in the computer lab.  The Crucible Compare/Contrast Essay due by the end of the hour to turnitin.com
• Tues: Review for The Crucible Unit Exam
• Wed: The Crucible Unit Exam.  1st Quarter Independent Book Project written portion due by the end of the day to turnitin.com
• Thurs: Start 1st Quarter Independent Book Project presentations
• Fri: Finish 1st Quarter Independent Book Project presentations